Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-11-01
THE MONKS az DEATH.
Two Young Men Guiiiotined In
france for a Double Hnrder.

London Tablet
A double execution has just taken
place at AK. The two lads, opposite,
aged twenty-five. and Tegami, aged
nineteen. were condemned to death in
the beginning Of August for burglary
and n double murder, and on Tuesday
suffered their sentence. Both died
cynically impenitent, cursing the chap
lain, who underworld TO move them TO
repentance, and showing a spirit OF
hardened wickedness truly revolving in
such young men. They asked forrum,
and drank Off large glass just as they
were going out to execution, and then
lighted cigars and smoked them as they
walked up to the guillotine. They were
attended to the last by confraternlty
called the Blus Penitents, but p0pu-
larry known in Provence as the hOiHcs
ne Ia Mort.
They are not religious coniraternl-
ty, although they were originally, hav-
lug been founded in the sixteenth cen
tmy by a holy priest, Matthew Ar
maud, Canon of ST. Sauyeur. lie was
moved with compassion for the uulor-
tunate conyicts, who. when they had
suffered capital punishment, were left
unhuried TO be deyoured by the yul-
lures or otherbirdsoiprey, and entrelt-
ell some charitablcpeIsons tOJOiu lntry-
ing fist TO procure spiritual help Tor
the poor creatures, and then to obtain
decent burial for them. The call was
answered, and good Christian gentle
men formed an association to visit the
condemned in prison they also assist
ca them to meet death, and bought a
grave for them, where they saw them
dtcently inferred. 1t is odd enough
that so purely Catholic AMI medieval
an institution as the so-calied HOiacS
dc IN Mort should have survived every
revolution and be still not only tole-
rated hut recognized by the local au-
tlorities.
When the news Of Tegami's and Es-
posito's approaching execution was
made known in AK the gentlemen VINO
lelonged to the conlratsrnity assem-
bled il the chapel in the Rue du Bon
Psstsur, and, having been informed by
their secretary OF tie coming tragedy,
offered up prayers for the condemned
then two antique lamps were lighted
ard placed before the altar, TO burn
there until all was over. From the day
of the condemnation till the day of The
execution prayers were offered up for
the condemned. and a mass said once
2 week for them. At the end of every
RELIGIOUS exercise IN thoir intention, tn.
members 90 in procession to the foot
of the altar, rcciting hymn and prayer
The day and hour of the execution arr
then notified to them o!licillly 10y The
/ Attorney General OF AK.
The Acknowledgement wrote " Non
sirUr II Prosid,at dc III C0nrcrjo de-
| TRjtcnis 6lcp8-I have the honor t
inform you that the capital execution o
Esposito and Tegami will take place to
morrow at half-past , in the morning
| know the services your contraternit.
have rendered, and may still render {
Justice. In inviting you 10 assist a
this execution am therefore only con
forming to an ancient tradition" tn
Blue Pcnitents at once went to thei
chapel, and before the crucitix, SUI
rounded by six lighted candles, the
recitcd the prayers for the agonizin2
stopping at the words prQfcisccre an
me- Chrisjan0. Next morning the
were at the prison, accompanied til
CONDEMNED TO the scatiold, saw the
bodies pl9ced in the collins, and follow
al them to their dishonored grave.
great many free thinkers, an a
surcd. belong TO this confraternity.